Suspect arrested in Leslieville shooting that killed mother of 2 had extensive criminal history

A man arrested Thursday in an east-end shooting last week that killed an innocent bystander had an extensive criminal history, court documents show.

Toronto police say 32-year-old Damian Hudson has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting that resulted in the death of Karolina Huebner-Makurat.

The 44-year-old wife and mother of two was walking in the area of Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue to pick up lunch when gunshots rang out just before 12:30 p.m. on July 7 when she was struck by a stray bullet. She was taken to a nearby trauma centre where she was later pronounced dead.

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Police say there was a physical altercation between three men in the area and two of them pulled out handguns and began shooting at each other.

Investigators continue to identify and search for two other suspects.

The second suspect is described as male, 18-25 years old, average height with a slim build and long hair in a ponytail. He was last seen wearing a black baseball hat, a black North Face hoodie, dark-coloured jeans and white shoes.

The third suspect is described as male, 18-25 years old, tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie, dark pants and dark shoes.

Surveillance photos of two suspects outstanding in Leslieville shooting on July 7, 2023. TPS/HO

Police confirm to CityNews that Hudson was out on bail at the time of the shooting and had a lifetime ban from possessing or owning a firearm.

Court documents show Hudson was convicted of aggravated assault and weapons dangerous for the April 2018 stabbing of Narooshan Jude. At that time he was sentenced to 15 months in jail and two years’ probation with a number of conditions including no possession of weapons.

In the 2018 case, Justice Feldman describes Hudson as “a repeat offender” while expressing concerns that his response to community supervision “has been poor.”

“It is aggravating that at the time of these offences, he was on two probation orders. It is disturbing that he was subject to two Weapons Prohibition Orders, the latter in 2011 for life,” Feldman wrote.

Nevertheless, despite the challenges and legal difficulties that Hudson has faced going back to when he was a youth in 2007, Justice Feldman acknowledged Hudson’s efforts to better himself and “grapple with his demons.”

“I believe he has the potential to reform with professional help and family support.”

Hudson was also charged in 2021 with assault causing bodily harm and failing to comply with a probation order issued in 2019. He was also charged with two counts of assault in March of 2022 and with failing to comply with the same probation order.

Several area residents were shocked but not surprised to learn about the suspects criminal history.

“I’m very disappointed to know that it sounds like there probably was more that we could have done to prevent this occurrence in the city,” one woman tells CityNews.

“It’s terrible,” said another area resident. “Especially if someone has committed crimes and is out there …is basically just handing them the gun in that situation.”

Leslieville residents set up a makeshift memorial for Huebner-Makurat shortly after her death, laying flowers, candles and notes mourning her death.

A GoFundMe page which has been set up by friends of the Huebner-Makurat family has collected more than $250,000 of the now $350,000 campaign goal since it launched five days ago.

A memorial of flowers and cards continues to grow in Leslieville at the spot where Karolina Huebner-Makurat was killed by a stray bullet. CITYNEWS/Craig Wadman